There are two types of knowledge, one comes from outside like something we learn from others/teachers or books etc: but we also have internal knowledge. If you make sense of something in your mind through insight or intuition or mybe contemplating then thats also knowledge imo.
Does it matter if you realize Dharma through inside or outside knowledge, they both work together. The only problem with outside knowledge is you can't always trust your memory.... but thats another story
